See how IWU students are blending science, service, and faith to make a real impact. Continue the story with another Hodson Research Institute student whose journey shows how purpose and research come together to change lives.
At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), the Hodson Research Institute offers students more than just a summer program. For many, it’s the first step into a world of cutting-edge science. Science that could help tackle one of humanity’s greatest challenges: cancer.
“It’s one thing to hear about cancer research in class. It’s another thing entirely to be part of it,” IWU student researcher Carter Miller said.
This summer, a team of students under the mentorship of IWU associate professor Stephen Leonard is working to design a molecule that can inhibit a key enzyme linked to leukemia. In some cancer patients, this enzyme stays turned on when it shouldn’t, leading to harmful cell activity. The students' goal? Build a small-molecule inhibitor that can shut it off.
“What we’re trying to do is create a molecule that can go into cells and stop the enzyme from overacting,” Miller said. “It’s laying the groundwork for treatments that could one day help real patients.”
The work is meticulous. Hours spent analyzing chemical reactions, testing hypotheses, and confirming outcomes with precision equipment. But it’s more than just technical training. It’s a purpose-driven science.
One of the pillars of the Hodson Research Institute is its faculty-student mentorship. When Miller first visited IWU, it was a meeting with Leonard that sealed the deal.
“He walked me through what it would look like to actually do research here,” Miller said. “That was the moment I knew this wasn’t just a small school, it was a place where I could grow and contribute.”
Unlike large universities where undergrads often fade into the background, IWU students are given the opportunity to collaborate, turning their knowledge into experience.
For Miller, this summer's important research experiences clarified an ambiguous future by helping him lean into a path he hadn't fully considered before.
“Doing research here showed me that I could make a difference in another way,” Miller said. “I never expected cancer research to be the thing that helped me decide.”
The Hodson Research Institute is not just for experts. It’s for the curious, the committed, and the brave.
“If you’re interested at all, just talk to a professor,” Miller said. “They’ll explain what they’re working on in a way you can understand. You don’t need to be an expert to get started. You just need to care.”
With projects ranging from organic synthesis to computational modeling, there's something for every kind of scientific mind. And at IWU, the door to those opportunities is wide open.
Cancer research might sound like something that happens in massive research hospitals or behind closed doors in billion-dollar labs. But at IWU, it starts in a lab just down the hall, with undergraduates who care deeply about making a difference. They're not just learning. They're fighting to beat cancer — one molecule at a time.
See how IWU students are blending science, service, and faith to make a real impact. Continue the story with another Hodson Research Institute student whose journey shows how purpose and research come together to change lives.
